What is the best way to go about planting a herb garden. My deck gets great afternoon sun...I have already planted basil, chives, and parsley...so far so good...but I would like to fill up a large window box and turn it into my small garden. I would love to plant cilantro, oregano, mint, rosemary, and lettuce...now I have heard that mint can kinda take over a garden, so that concerns me. I am new to gardening and need as much advice/help I can get. will these things be ok together in a large planter window box? are they annual?
I have found that planting herbs that have similar requirements together works best. Parsley and cilantro are cool-weather annual plants that do well either in pots or in a part of the garden that gets late afternoon shade. Basil is also annual, and loves heat, so put it where it will get almost or all full sun, and don't expect it to last past your first frost. It is a lovely companion plant for tomatoes, so if you have tomatoes in the ground, stick a few basil plants around them and let them enjoy each other's company. Oregano and rosemary are perennials, and need space. There are several types of each, but for cooking purposes, either the Sicilian or the Greek oregano, and the Tuscan rosemary are best. Not that the others are bad, but these are the very best! Plant them where they can stay for a few years, or in a container that can be moved to sunny spots or into shelter if the temps are going to stay below freezing for several days. For your window box, may I suggest that you simply plant two or three types of lettuces (Black Seeded Simpson, Oakleaf, Red Sails) which will be decorative and edible, then when the heat finishes off the lettuces, put in starts of lemon, opal, and globe basils for color, texture and taste. Mint is best kept in its own container since as you already know, it will take over! Fresh herbs are such a joy to cook with, and your hands will smell delicious after picking them, too!
